Puppy blues

[StillAliveish]

We got our first puppy on Thursday. Since then it's been an absolute whirlwind. We have a cat and 2 DC and I feel like I've added another baby to the family. To be fair to him he's slept really well, only waking up once for the toilet in the night but we're finding toileting him in the day really hard and it's been a big shock. We spent months researching and prepping but I'm a bag of nerves. I'm worried we won't be able to cope with him and for some reason I'm terrified there's something wrong with him (no evidence for this, just general anxiety cos he's so young). He's getting vet checked tomorrow which I'm hoping will help with this.

I've read online it's possible to have "puppy blues" but friends and family just keep saying how cute he is and how they're jealous and I keep having bouts where I want to cry. I've only ever felt like once before when we had DS1 where for a couple of weeks I kept thinking "what have we done??"

Please tell me other people have felt this and that it gets better!!!

Hi can anyone help I got a puppy 9weeks old French bulldog male I kept him for 9 days but had severe puppy blues and uncontrollable aching in my chest for having such regret on taking him to the point were I gave him back 2 days ago after giving him back I felt even more guilt as my whole family was against me for making that decision now I’ve reached out to the breeder and he has given me the option once again to have this puppy back but I have not told my family do I take him back as I still have that feeling of dread

@Firsttimedoggymum

Hi can anyone help I got a puppy 9weeks old French bulldog male I kept him for 9 days but had severe puppy blues and uncontrollable aching in my chest for having such regret on taking him to the point were I gave him back 2 days ago after giving him back I felt even more guilt as my whole family was against me for making that decision now I’ve reached out to the breeder and he has given me the option once again to have this puppy back but I have not told my family do I take him back as I still have that feeling of dread

It will be worse, on both your family and the puppy, if you take him back but end up giving him back to the breeder again.

Do you have children? How old are they?

Will the reasons that you gave him up still be there if you take him back?

Can I ask why specifically you felt you had to give him back to the breeder and what has changed now.

As above, it will be so worse if you have to give him up again.

OP I lost nearly a stone and struggled to sleep for several weeks when I got my longed-for pup. It was so incredibly stressful - I think I found it harder than having babies as I couldn't just breastfeed her whenever she was being difficult!

She's a year old now and, although I still have my "aaaaargh" moments (for example when she ate a chocolate brownie at the weekend), I love having her.

Sorry - did the awful thing where I didn't read to end of the thread
@firsttimedoggymum - I think you probably will feel that dread again. It won't last forever but you do need to decide if you're prepared to put up with it for potentially a few months.

The puppy blues are very very real and I was in the depth of them this time last year. Full of a whirlwind of emotions of love, regret, guilt, resentment and TIREDNESS. Can honestly say it does pass. I think it was, honestly, when he was around ten months old we settled into a good, predictable routine that a solid fortnight passed without a single WTF HAVE WE DONE thought. The worry, the stress, the anxiety thinking are we doing right by him, his pulling on the lead, biting, digging - aargh. But I did love him to bits throughout and just really, really wanted the best for him but it was a much, much bigger time, money and emotional commitment than I ever thought. His lovely nature was always there it was ME overthinking and stressing. I think he's taught me so much about patience, being in the moment, and being consistent. I was at the point of tears a lot for the first 5 or 6 months and now I think I was being ridiculous but that is how I felt and I'm sure pandemic pressure didn't help. But he really was worth every moment. The most important thing I think I've learnt is they need far, far more sleep than you probably think at puppy stage. I'm really glad we crate trained, he still loves to have that private den like space. Really glad we were consistent in certain rules -never fed from the table, sit, stay, wait (holding treat in hand), drop it, down, repeated consistent and with hand signals. Really glad we put our name down in advance for over subscribed dog walking service twice a week more for the doggy pack play than anything! Once he's fully jabbed and can go on sniffy walks they will tire his mind and body out. Tired dog is a happy dog. Good luck. It does get better!

I've lost two inches round my waist since our boy arrived a few weeks ago. No time to think I fancy a few squares of chocolate! Hardly time to go to the loo. But he is sleeping 10-6 now, though I am still waking at stupid o'clock, from the very early days. Just so knackered.